Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-10-21
LAND OF THE SIOUX.
A Journey Across the Great Reservation =
Maratta and Old Prntean

A Journey Across the Great Reservation
Maratta and Old Proteau.
Two weeks on the Big Sioux reservation
says letter to The Minneapolis Journal,
has given your correspondent splendid
opportunity to learn the country, talk
with Indians, prominent half breeds and
squaw men, the two last mentioned WELD
ing an immense influence with the Irdi-
ans. 1t Is not to be wondered at that the
white man covets this land. 1t is one of
the granGest stretches of country that
can be found in the vast west Living
streams of water are found every ten
miles, the banks of creeks lined with
timber and the grass growing knee deep.
As grazing country it stands preemi-
nently as one of the best in DAB ta. and
As an agricultural country it ranks with
any locality in the wonderland. One
would naturally suppose that numerous
bands of Indians would be met in cross
ing the celebrated Pierre and Deadwood
trial, distance of 200 miles. Do you
know that redskin on this piece of land
$50 miles square Is a scarcityY Not an
acre has been touched by the pillow, ard
now that the democratic administration
has ordered all white rsnchmen to vacate,
the trip across the reservation is a desc.
late one.
The only relic met of pioneer days was
Proteau an old Frenchman and squsw-
man, who has lived here for fifty years
He is known all along the Missouri slope
de occupies his time trapping on the
Bad river. His left arm is useless now;
he was shot by the Crows while on a
horse-steaiing expention forty years ago.
Proteau came to our camp last night and
an ,.;t ~
Dakota and Minnesota were considered
waste land He is an interesting old cuss
but bears watching, as he has a wonder
ful Guilty of "cas hing" articles. a good
one is told on Proteau which illustrates
his originality. When United States
Marshal Dan Maratta was crossing the
hills be camped near Proteau's ranch. In
the morning two long chains were mis-
sing, and Dan sent one of his men up to
the ranch to tell the old man that if he
didn't bring the chains back right off he
would throttle him. The messenger re.
turned with the information that Pro-
teau would give him no satisfaction;
claimed that he had seen no chaius, nor
did he have any about the ranch. "IIl
see about this" said Dan, and he put off
for the ranch.
SAiN1 L ASbOobS oulN LAM "dub
those chains you stole from my camp
last night" and he walked up to the old
man and took good grip of his arm.
'Ze log chains you want, no got re log
chains. What l want the log chains for?
no want zem. Have you make re good
long at re camp? Re must be zair."
well they amt there and l know you
got them somewhere round here, and if
l don't find 'em I'll make it hot for you,"
and Dan had grabbed u pitchfork and
began turning over pile of rubbish at
the end of the stable near where the old
man stood. Finding nothing, he search
ed through the stable and haystack AT
ter proddiIg around for while, he found
the chains hidden at the end of the stack,
pushed as far into it as they could be
without digging into the hay.
Look at this, you old thief" said Dan.
''Vei, Eat is wonderful; Eat beats any
thing ever see. Idon't know what do;
guess ] move out of re d-n country; re
coyotes get so bad Eat nobody live where
zey are any more"
Coyotes he D." said Dan. "The
coyotes never touched these chains; you
are the wolf who took them"
"Ah, Mistair Maratta, you do not kr ow
what re coyotes do around here, zey is
awful bad; zey stole zose chains, sure,
and drag zem up here; zey do anything,
mistair. Why, Just so sure as you stand
zair, zey stole 'em, 1 say; why, last win
ter re coyotes stole two kegs nails, so
help me gracious
The statement of Proteau was a stun
ner, and left him in his glory.
The character of Proteau is only a
specimen oftho inwardness of squaw men
and half breeds. They will not only lie
and steal, but are at the bottom of the
greater part of the devilment committed
by the Indians. 1t is owing to the ire
sponsibiIity of these men that the Dawes
bill could never become a law. They are
one and all opposed TO it. Should the
Dawes bill pass both branches of con-
gress and the work of securing the sigma
lures of the indians commenced it wonld
prove up hill work, unless every squaw
man and half breed was fixed" 1t would
cost thousands of dollars to gam their
influence, and even if they agreed to
work for the signatures 1t would be one
hundred to one that they lied. Buck
Williams told your correspondent that
every half breed and squaw man, and
numbers of other while men who pretend
to have some influence with th6 indians
are auxiously looking for the passage of
the Dawes bill, as they hope to secure
blood money for their influence" 1t is
indeed a poor bill, and if Senator Dawes
wishes to assist the eastern people he
must not draw the line too fine. AS the
bill now stands it is fruit for the class of
whites who draw government ratiens.
Mr.. Dawes idea to pay certain sum of
money to the Indians for this
land and open it to settlement, is the
only means of securing this much desired
wish.
In the Black Hills l heard Bishop Hare
openly denounced for his work against
opening the reservation. 1t is claimed
there that it was his hostility to this
measure that defeated it two years ago,
and be is still engaged secretly in doing
all as can to have this Chinese wall con-
tinue to stare Prierre, Chamberlin, Rapid
City, and other points in the face.